Women in power : classical myths and stories, from the Amazons to Cleopatra / edited by Stephanie McCarter.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

McCarter, Stephanie, editor.

Series:

Penguin classics

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Leadership in women--Case studies.

Leadership in women.

Women--History.

Women.

Physical Description:

xxxvi, 308 pages ; 20 cm.

Place of Publication:

[New York] : Penguin Books, [2024]

Summary:

"There is no other anthology that brings together similar stories of ancient women in power. These women threaten male power by stepping into the roles traditionally held by men. They command armies, exercise sexual autonomy and even dominance, speak in public, issue laws, and subject others (even masculine heroes and citizen men) to their control. All of these stories were written by men, and none of them can be read as affirmations or celebrations of women in power. They are instead misogynistic tales that aim to shore up masculine authority by exposing the consequences when women rather than men wield it. The sexist attitudes voiced in these stories continue to justify women's exclusion from power in our contemporary world. Yet, despite the fear and suspicion the male authors direct toward these women, we can find much to admire in their tales, from the coordinated action of the women of Aristophanes' Assemblywomen, to Dido's questioning of the male value system that leads Aeneas to abandon her, to the righteous anger of Boudicca against sexual violence by men in power, to the successful resistance of Amanirenas against Rome's colonial expansion. Read differently, these tales testify to the long history of women in power and help us forge new paths for female empowerment"-- Provided by publisher.

Notes:

Place of publication from publisher's website.

Includes bibliographical references.

Other Format:

Online version: McCarter, Stephanie A. Women in power

ISBN:

9780143136361

0143136364

OCLC:

1413943923

Publisher Number:

90100432808